Lifter roof



Feb. 17, 194 8. J, w. ALLEN 2,436,348

LIFTER ROOF Filed NOV. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 17,1948. .Lw. ALLEN 2,436,348 LIFTER ROOF Filed Nov. 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 provided with side walls 6!.

Patented Feb. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES LIFTER ROOF John W. Allen, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Bridge & Iron 00., a corporation of Illinois Application November 3, 1945, Serial No. 626,586

8 Claims. (01. 48-176) This invention relates to a lifter roof and more particularly to a means for counterweighting the roof in such a way that the weight of the roof is constant.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vessel embodying the improvement;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation thereof Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation enlarged to show the details of the sheave mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation illustrating a modified form of the invention.

As shown in the drawing, Ill represents a storage vessel having side walls II and a bottom I2. l5 represents a lifter roof assembly. This assembly comprises a coned roof [6 truncated at its center to provide a well 11 secured to the roof in a gas tight manner. Frame [8 supports the roof and the well when the roof is in its lowermost position.

The counterweight 2D is suspended within the well and guided therein by any suitable means The counterweight is The roof is provided with an outwardly flaring depending skirt 35 having an angle iron rim 36 at its bottom to which the fabric seal 39 is secured. The seal is also secured at 46 to the top of the side wall.

Arms 2'! are curved and are fastened to the roof.

It will be observed that as the roof rises the counterweight remains stationary with respect to the ground and at the same time the skirt 36 rises at the same rate as the roof and thereby provides backing for the fabric 39 when the skirt 35 has cleared the top edge 46 of the tank. A turn buckle 553 be provided in each of the cables to adjust the length thereof.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the vessel 6%) is The roof 65 is provided with a cone deck 68 carrying a central well E6 within which the counterweight 61 is housed. The deck 68 is stiffened by rafters 69 and carries two cencentric depending rims or skirts 10 and H. One of these rims is of smaller diameter than the walls of the storage vessel and the other rim H is of greater diameter. A flexible sealing member 72 is secured to the bottom of the inner rim 10 and to the side walls 6| at a point somewhat below the top. The counterweight is carried by cables 15 which pass over sheaves 16, H and 18 and are attached to the top of the side wall.

A center column 80, having a flat form Bl at its top, provides a stop for the well when the roof is in its lowermost position.

A weather hood is provided over the center well.

In this form of the invention it will be observed that the flexible member 12 is backed up at times by the rim 10, at other times by the top of the walls 6!, and at other times by the rim 7 I, or by a combination of these various elements.

Having described my invention as related to a typical embodiment of the same, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a storage vessel having stationary side walls and a vertically movable roof, a flexible member connecting the side walls to the roof and a counterweight system carried by the roof including a central well in the roof and carried thereby, at least a pair of groups of sheaves in sequence carried by the roof, and flexible supporting means secured to the counterweight, each such supporting means passing over a group of the sheaves in sequence.

2. In a storage vessel having stationary side walls and a vertically movable roof, a flexible member connecting the side walls to the roof and a counterweight system carried by the roof including a central well in the roof and carried thereby, at least a pair of groups of sheaves in sequence carried by the roof, and flexible supporting means secured to the counterweight, each such supporting means passing over a group of the sheaves in sequence, said roof carrying a depending skirt at its edge.

3. A vessel as set forth in claim 2 in which the depending skirt is flared outwardly and downwardly.

4. A vessel as set forth in claim 2 in which the flexible member connects the bottom of the depending skirt and the top of the side wall of the vessel.

5. A vessel as set forth in claim 1 in which independent supporting means are provided for g the 'roof when it is in its lowermost position.

-6. A vessel as set forth in claim 1 in which the .roof isprovlded with a pair of concentric dexpending rims, one of smaller diameter than the --,tankjand the other of larger diameter than the tank."

' 7. A vessel as set-forth in claim 1 in which the roof is provided with a pair of concentric depending rims, one of smaller diameter than the the top edge thereof.

JOHN W. ALLEN. 

